I have been learning Karate, I'm only a yellow belt, but love it, but lately I have lacked the motivation to get me to my lesson of a friday because I'm normally exhausted from working all week... This week I'm going no matter what... I need it...
Always fighting against the current, the salmon has long been a symbol of determination. (Tattoo Johnnie. com)

Over the course of 10 years I practiced Shotokan, Hawaiian Kenpo and Okinawan Kenpo.  That was 10 years ago now though. 

 I enjoyed katas and that tournament aspect more then anything else. I have a few stories if anyone is interested. :)

been practicing Tai jutsu for around 6 years....

Anyone ever tried Aikido? It's really good. Uses more of our internal energy, or 'ki', and it's in between offensive and defensive. Very suitable for all ages.

There's even a 60 year-old man in our dojo ^^;

Anyone want to explain more about Taijutsu? I'm kinda interested :)

I believe, a martial art that is part of ninjutsu that focuses on unarmed combat and self defense. Alexz can probably give you a better description.. It's pretty awesome. The Bujinkan honbu is right here where I live, and when I was still practicing naginata at the budokan, I caught glimpses of their training. =D

Aikido's awesome! I'd try it if I could...

Oh.. part of ninjutsu.. so I guess it's more on the offensive side, right?

budokan? You live in Tokyo? and what's naginata, btw?

Yeah, try it. I've learned a lot from the techniques, which are a mixture of kenjutsu, judo, karate, etc.

I used to do Ju Jitsu and I heard about Aikido but I was told that it was a lot more rigid compared to Ju Jitsu, you had to execute each throw or punch in a certain way or else it was wrong even if the effect was the same, I never actually did it so I'm not 100% sure that this is the case.

I'd like to actually get back into martial arts again but I'm kinda torn between Kung Fu and Kendo, and my last experience kinda put me off, some guy at the dojo hurt me while we were practicing a throw, but not really badly and that didn't bother me, what bothered me was that the sensei tore him down in front of the whole class, what's the point of learning how to defend yourself if everybody is going to go soft on you just because you're a woman?!      

Tai Jutsu is a martial art that relies solely on body dynamics.....no weapons involved

 it's mainly for self defence,it concentrates alot on timing,distance and motion so that it doesn't matter how stronger or larger your opponent is

It's made up of mostly kicks,throws,joint locks...alot of things that you will find in judo or karate

Thanks for the info, Alexz! :)

About aikido, yeah, the sensei always tells us to relax and concentrate whenever we're practicing. I'm not an expert in this matter at all, but I find it easier to relax on every practice.

And, yes, guys always goes easy on me, especially cuz I'm the only girl there. Good thing the sensei doesn't care much about gender.

What I wanna try is Kyudo, japanese archery. Anyone've heard of it?

 I used to take a style of kung fu called southern praying mantis.. I loved it, but it was too much strain on my knees as well, and I don't kno but I'm thinking bout starting again.. my brother is now a disehang and can teach me on my own, but I know that he'll be ten times harder on me bcuz he wants me to be the best..

I love martial arts tho and it gives u something that other people who never have taken classes don't understand. My sifu is disappointed that I quit he said I had the potential to the best girl that he's ever taught.. ah, choices

~They call me the Remedy, not talkin curing colds, but I can heal ya body in jus one stroke~

Yeah! and what I like more about kyudo is, it requires meditation and full concentration, which is what I've been looking for! It's just so graceful and elegant. and I love the fact that hitting the target is not important, but your process of doing it is. What a great philosophy.. I've gotta try it!

omega, it happens here too. Lucky you, cuz in Japan, they respect the 'art&tradition' of the martial art more. By going easy on women, that's just the same as thinking that women can't beat their asses. WRONG! *laughs*

Lanna J, wow, your kung fu style's name is pretty cool! Is it hard to practice kung fu?

I've always wanted to practice some form of martial arts... Parents never let me so I finally joined the TKD club when I went to college. I loved it :)

Only problem is that I have a knee problem and 3/4 of the way into the semester I kind of rehurt my knee :( Any suggestions on a different form that might be less stressful for knees? I really miss the discipline and workout it gave me.... sadly I only made it to Yellow belt before my knee died on me ><"

Oh, now I get it. My style of Aikido is Steven Seagal's, and the sensei keeps on pushing us to the limit, to learn faster and all. Steven Seagal is American, and Americans want to learn faster.. But I was kinda dissapointed cuz I haven't had time to really understand the philosophy of the martial art itself...

My mother was stationed in south korea for a few years and studied tkd while there. Once my brother and I were about 6 or 7, she insisted we take it as well. I'm two degrees away from my black belt, but have just never screwed up the courage to test out for it. I loved to compete, but work has kept me from devoting as much time as I would like.
I tried Judo a few years back, but after a few years just couldn't get enough muscle in to do a lot of the more complex throws. So I stuck with TKD.

Anyway, *chuckle* that's my random ramble.

Hey all,

I trained in WTF TKD for about 5 years - reached black stripe. I didn't go for my black belt because there was a requirement to get involved in alot more sparring/tournaments. I realized my heart just wasn't into that aspect of it so I stopped.

Instead I swtiched to aikido. There is no competitive sparring for most styles/dojos and pretty much all our moves our defensive ones. Personally, I have found that this MA works well for me and quite effective against larger opponents (I'm 115lb, 5'3). I used to do aikikkai but now do iwama, which tends to be more technically demanding and involves sword and staff work.

My only wish is that I knew some grappling techniques. I've been thinking of taking a brazillian jiujitsu class to see what it's all about. Anybody a BJJ practitioner?

I love Taebo *hanging head in shame*

Anyone watching Fight Girls on Oxygen?  Ahhh I so love that show!  I can't even watch the fights sitting down,  I am usually pacing the floor with my heart about to beat out of my chest!

I have a black belt in TKD.  I was really very interested in taking Kung Fu (still am) but it's expensive a far to drive from where I live.  I never let anyone know I have a black belt, they immediately start asking lame questions about beating people up.  I loved the more artistic aspect of it, the movement, the katas.

 Now my passion is rock climbing.  Anyone hooked on that?  I should probably save that for another forum.

I practice Krav Maga and I L-L-LOVE it!  You can check it out at kravmaga.com

It's self defense and an awesome work out.  No tournaments, as there is no sport application for what is taught.

I have Practiced Karate, but I have been in the Kendo club of my college the last two years and I love it, and the good thing is that when I finish my studies I can continue in the club, I´ve done some things of Iaido too, I feel like kenshin the samurai when I do Iaido.

Well, I'm a 2nd dan Judo instructor and have started practice it about 16 years ago... will become 3rd dan maybe next year if I'll have time enough to train.
I love Judo so much... but practice now only "traditional" judo, no more competitions.

Martial arts is my passion and have done this almost my whole life. Im a 2nd degree black belt in karate and I started when i was 6. I stopped in my teenage year when I chose surfing because at that time I wanted to go pro so I got offered by Hawaiian Island Creations to go amatuer. But that didnt go well cause of family issues so i had to give that up. Then i started back in martial arts and got into Tae Kwon Do. I loved the sparring part of it...the strategy is just amazing! I competed in many inter-tournaments, state, national, and international tournaments. And now im running my own dojang and sharing my passion with my students. Im now a 3rd dan black belt and now training for my masters this November. This is my team that competes on the elite team.

XTREME 2

Like Alexz I also train in Taijutsu. I've been training for almost 3 years now, and just passed my 1st purple. I love it. We train outdoors once a week, and indoors once a week. Unfortunately, I'm only one of 3 women in my dojo :(   I wish more women were interested in the martial arts. It's a dangerous world, esp. for women.

If sense and courtesy were common, more people would use them.